Guide to Pick 55 Challenge

What Pick 55 is

Pick 55 is a weekly football challenge where members build a confidence card using NFL teams against the spread. The challenge is simple to understand but gives members room to make real strategy decisions.

Each card can include up to 10 picks. Confidence points run from 10 down to 1, creating a total possible card value of 55 points.

What it means to cover the spread

A spread is a point adjustment used to compare two teams. In Pick 55, you are not only picking who wins the real game. You are picking whether the team performs well enough against its posted spread.

A negative spread means the team is favored. To check whether that team covered, subtract the spread number from the team's final score. Did they still win after that adjustment?

A positive spread means the team is the underdog. To check whether that team covered, add the spread number to the team's final score. Did they win after that adjustment?

Spread examples

• If Dallas is -3.5, Dallas must win by 4 or more points to cover. If Dallas wins 24-21, they win the real game by 3, but they do not cover -3.5.
• Using the same -3.5 example, subtract 3.5 from Dallas's final score. A 24-point final score becomes 20.5. Since 20.5 is lower than the opponent's 21, Dallas did not cover.
• If Kansas City is -3.5 and wins 28-21, subtract 3.5 from 28. The adjusted score is 24.5-21, so Kansas City still wins after the adjustment and covers.
• If Detroit is +3.5, Detroit can lose by no more than 3 points and still cover. If Detroit loses 24-21, add 3.5 to Detroit's score. The adjusted score is 24.5-24, so Detroit covers.
• If Detroit is +3.5 and loses 28-21, add 3.5 to Detroit's score. The adjusted score is 24.5-28, so Detroit does not cover.

How scoring works

If your selected team covers the posted spread, you earn the confidence points assigned to that pick. If the team does not cover, that pick earns 0 points.

Your strongest pick should receive the highest confidence value, while lower-confidence picks should carry less of your weekly total.

How to play

• Join a public league or create a private challenge.
• Review the weekly NFL slate and posted spreads.
• Choose up to 10 teams.
• Assign confidence points from 10 down to 1.
• Submit your card before the deadline and track the leaderboard.

Strategy tips

• Do not put 10 points on a pick just because it is your favorite team.
• Think about spread movement, injuries, matchups, weather, and motivation.
• Use lower confidence values for picks you like but do not fully trust.
• Over a full season, avoiding unnecessary 0-point swings matters.